The Sri Lankan Government on Monday (November 2) distanced itself from its highest ranking military officer amidst allegations of human rights violations. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, Sri Lankan cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda has said that the Government's stand could differ from chief of defence staff General Sarath Fonseka's statements.
Devananda claims that for political reasons, General Fonseka could talk about things that actually never happened. The Minister says that Fonseka's statements could differ from the government's stand because opposition parties are trying to get him to join politics.
He said, "He (Fonseka) is trying to enroll in politics, so he may say something different from what actually happened. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka are trying to bring him into politics, maybe as a third force. That is our government’s stand."
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, "I have accordingly met earlier this afternoon with Her Excellency, Mrs. Patricia Butenis, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, to convey through Her Excellency the message that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavour to interview General Fonseka."
The Lankan government's stand comes at a time when it has demanded that Washington drop an attempt to question Fonseka over alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. The US Department of Homeland Security wants to interview Fonseka to gather information against the Lankan Defence Secretary Gotbaya Rajapakse. Fonseka is currently on a trip to the US.
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Devananda claims that for political reasons, General Fonseka could talk about things that actually never happened. The Minister says that Fonseka's statements could differ from the government's stand because opposition parties are trying to get him to join politics.
He said, "He (Fonseka) is trying to enroll in politics, so he may say something different from what actually happened. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka are trying to bring him into politics, maybe as a third force. That is our government’s stand."
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, "I have accordingly met earlier this afternoon with Her Excellency, Mrs. Patricia Butenis, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, to convey through Her Excellency the message that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavour to interview General Fonseka."
The Lankan government's stand comes at a time when it has demanded that Washington drop an attempt to question Fonseka over alleged human rights violations during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. The US Department of Homeland Security wants to interview Fonseka to gather information against the Lankan Defence Secretary Gotbaya Rajapakse. Fonseka is currently on a trip to the US.
timesnow
